Educational device for decimal numeration



Sept. 3, 1957 D. K. ROBINSON EDUCATIONAL DEVICE FOR DECIMAL NUMERATIONFiled Dec. 18, 1953 INVENTOR. flmzagd K1530 61225077 ONES TENTHSEDUCATIONAL DEVICE FOR DEC NUMERATION Donald K. Robinson, Jacksonviiie,111. Application December 18, 1953, Serial No. 398,996 8 Claims. (Cl.35-31) This invention relates to a novel educational device WhlCh isuseful as an aid in teaching arithmetic and the number system,particularly to young children.

In teaching the Arabic number system to children at the primary gradelevel, mechanical contrivances and work books of various types arefrequently used. However, such teaching aids as. have been knownheretofore have not been entirely satisfactory in connection withcertain phases of the teaching process. For example, the use andsignificance of the decimal point and its relationship to the variousplace value columns are often (.lllIlCUllI concepts for young childrento grasp. I have found that there is a very definite need for a simpleand effective device which can illustrate these points with clarity andvisual appeal.

Accordingly, provide a novel educational device useful in teachingarithmetic and the number system.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel mechanicalteaching aid which is especially adapted for use in introducing thedecimal point concept and teaching its significance to young children.

Another object of the invention is to provide an education device of thecharacter described which is particularly useful in teaching therelationship of the decimal point with the ones place value column.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel visual aidin the teaching of the number system which particularly enables studentsto appreciate the fact that the decimal point never leaves an arithmeticproblem but merely changes in position in accordance with changes in thevalue of the number. 7

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become evident fromthe subsequent detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing,

wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an educational device comprising onespecific embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 to 6 are front elevational views of certain elements used withthe device; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a tray or a container for the elementsshown in Figs. 3 to 6.

Referring'to the drawing, the device has an elongated base structure 10which in this instance is formed from three elongated sections of woodor the like which are secured together, as by gluing, in superimposedrelation. Thus, the base structure 10 has a flat relatively wide bottomportion 11 providing a firm support for the. device, an intermediateportion 12 of lesser width, and an uppermost portion 13 which is stillnarrower. Of course, it will be understood that materials other thanWood can be employed to form the base structure 10 and that it can bemade as an integral unit rather than by the multiple part constructionillustrated herein.

The uppermost base portion or element 13 has its front wall, indicatedat 14, slanted or inclined rearwardly a primary object of my inventionis to to a slight extent as best seen in Fig. 2. The upper surface ofthe element 13 is provided with an elongated slot 15 which extends thefull length of the base and is also inclined or slanted rearwardly ingenerally parallel relation with the slanted front wall 14. As seen inthe drawing, the slot 15 is preferably located adjacent the rearlongitudinal edge of the element 13. A plurality of small rectangularplates or indicating blocks 16 are provided and each such block bearsthe indicia of an appropriate digit, such as seen in Fig. 3, or otheruseful indicia, such as the dollar sign shown in Fig. 4. The thicknessand size of the digit blocks 16 are such that the blocks can be slidablydisposed in the slot 15 and thereby retained in generally upright butslightly inclined display position. As seen in Fig. 1, a plurality ofsuch digit blocks 16 are arranged in the slot 15 to form the number1928. Obviously, the teacher can easily slide the digit blocks 16 backand forth in the slot 15 to provide any desired display arrangement.

The front portion of the intermediate base element 12 projects outwardlyfrom the upper base element 13 so as to provide an elongated shoulderportion or recess at the front of the device, this recess being formedby the rearwardly inclined front wall 14 of the element 13 and also bythe forwardly projecting upper surface of the element 12 whichconstitutes a shallow ledge or shelf 17. This ledge or shelf 17 ispreferably tapered or inclined upwardly to a slight degree, as clearlyshown in Fig. 2. A plurality of smaller rectangular blocks 18 are alsoprovided, these blocks bearing place value indicia as seen in Figs. 5and 6. Thus, the blocks 18 constitute place value indicators eachcontaining the name of a place value column such as ones, tens,hundreds, thousands, etc. for the whole numbers and tenths, hundredths,thousandths, etc. for the decimal fractions. As seen in Figs. 1 and 2,the appropriate place value indicator blocks 18 are disposed in theelongated recess at the front of the device and below the correspondingdigit blocks 16. The place value blocks 18 are slidable in this recesswith the bottom edges of the blocks seating on the upwardly inclinedledge 17 and the rear faces of the blocks engaging the inclined frontWall 14. It will be understood that the inclined or slanted relation ofthe surfaces 14 and 17 serves to retain the place value blocks 18 inrelatively secure display position while at the same time permittingtheir convenient shifting or removal. As illustrated in Fig. 1, theplace value blocks bearing the indicia thousands, hundreds, tens, andones are placed under the digit blocks 1, 9, 2, and 8, respectively, inorder to indicate the significance of the different digit columns.

An elongated swingable bail, indicated generally at 19,

l is pivotally connected at its ends to the opposite end portions of thebase structure 10 for supporting a movable decimal point-representingelement. In the form illustrated, the bail 19 consists of a one-piecewire or rod having bent end portions so as to provide an elongatedcentral or cross portion 20, depending leg portions 21, and rearwardlybent end portions 22 disposed at an angle to the leg portions 21. Theend portions 22 are swin ably mounted on a pair of pivots 23 extendingfrom the opposite ends of the base element 12 so that the entire bail 19is swingable about the pivots 23 both forwardly and rearwardly of thebase structure. A spherical element or bead 24 is slidably carried onthe bail portion 29 for representing a decimal point. In normal use of.the device, the bail is retained in its forwardly pivoted position, asindicated in Fig. l and in full lines in Fig. 2, by means of a pair ofretainer pins 25 projecting from the ends of the base element 12 andengaging the angular end portions 22 of the bail. In this position, theelongated cross G portion 20 of the bail and the head 24 carried thereonare positioned forwardly of the slot 15 so that the bead 24 can belocated in any desired position in front of the digit blocks 16.However, in the event that the decimal point is rieeded' or isnot'des'ired at any particulartiine, the entire 'b'a il 19 can bepivotedre'arwardly of the base structure 'to "a completely conce'aled'positionat the rear of the device as indicated dotted lines in'Fig. 2.Consequently, teacher'can avoid confusion by keeping the d' a1 pointelement completely'out of sight until it is no e' dh 'ln Fig. ,7 lhaveshown a rectangular box or tray 26 divided into a pliiralit'yofcompartments by partitions 27.

r ms; th'efdigit blocks 16 and theplace' value indicator blocks '18 canbe "conveniently stored and kept available usei'n conjunc withtheteacliing device.

A s i l h iei' h fr'pm t e o o n d p the ii i'l g particularly useful inteaching the significance B 31 point withpar ticular emphasis on therelaf the dc'imal point to'the ones place value column." A rhe fte'a r dmonstrates a problerngth'e student i s'readily impres the'fact that thedecimal point, as represented y; end 24, never leavesthe problem bute'ly rnovesba'ck and forth as the value of the number 'repre'seiitedbythe di'git'blocks'lo is changed or as iiinb'er's of varying value areset up in'the slot 15. By nis' of the location of appropriate placevalue indica'tor blocks 18' below the respective digit block 16, thestages can readily' see the relative position of all place value columnsfrom their point of reference, namely, the ones place vuueeoiumn. Bythe'structural arrangerim men shown; all three factors are visible at thesame time,

iL e. the digit blocks, the place "value indicators disposed therebelow,and the movable decimal point disposed in front of the digit blocks.

also evident, the teaching method may be varied by having the studentset up a requirel comon of digits mule slot 115' after the place valueindica ors 1 are already in position, or'the reverse procedure can beemployed having the student set up appropriate place va u indi at r b st w po predeterained a r n me of i t ocks n the slbt An im o a t ad ntae 0 e d se resides n the hinged or swingable relationship of the decimalpoint structure in the rest of thedevice. If the decimal point conceptis not needed proves to be confusing to young tudents it an. be mp et cea om ribrmal View by swinging the bail to the rear of the unit.

In addition to the normal use of the device as a teaching aid in thegeneral manner herei'nbefore described, it also lendsitself readily torelated educational uses such as simple games and coordinated use inconjunction with work 170 2 58 nd the like 4 Although the invention hasbeen described with par i a r fe en e o a snooi structu mbq a fllI- of,it is to be i ld-Ql'stoqd that variousmodificatioins' and equivalentstructures may be resorted to without departing f m h Scone o the iventio a de 9 appen d cla ms I claim:

A edu a o a de ce se l .1 teaching the ber system comprising anelongated body having a slot extending along its upper side, a pluralityof digit blocks adapted to be removably and slidably disposed in generally upright display position in said slot, an elongated rod extendinglongitudinally of said body in front of said slot, a decimalpoint-representing element slidably disposed on said rod, and meanssupporting said rod on said body for swinging movement about a pivotaxis spaced from but parallel to said rod, said rod being swingableabout said axis between a position in front or said slot andsaid'bljoclss for providing decimal point representation'and anotherposition remote from said slot and said blocks when decimalrepresentation not desired, W a H 2. An educational device useful inteaching the number system comprising an elongated body havinga slotextending along its upper side, a plurality of digit blocks adapted tobe removably and slidably disposed in generally upright display positionin said slot, an elongated support pivotally mounted on said body forswinging movement about a pivot axis parallel to but spaced from thelongitudinal axis of said support, said support in one position thereofbeing adapted to extend in front of said slot, and a decimal pointelement slidable along said support for providing decimal pointrepresentation in said one position of said support, said support beingswingable to another position remote from said slot and said digitblocks when the decimal point representation is not desired.

3. An educational device useful'in teaching the number system comprisingan elongated body having a slot extending along its upper side, aplurality of digit blocks adapted to be removably and slidably disposedin generally upright display position in said slo t, a swingable bailpivotally secured at its end portions to the opposite ends of saidbody," s'aidbail having an elongated cross portion ada'p are exten infront of said slot when the bail is in forwardly'pivoted position, meansfor supporting said bail in said forwardly pivoted'position, and adecimal point element slidably carried on the cross portion of said'bailand adapted to be located in any desired position thereon relative tothe digit blocks, said bail being swingable m mmary of said body forshifting the decimal point element out of View and away from said digitblocks. 4IThe device of claim 3 further characterized in that theend'lejgs of said bail have angularly-extending portions pivoted attheir end extremities to said body, and said means comprises abutmentmembers projecting from the 98 id bfq and e a in sai angularlvextendingportions for supporting the cross portion of the bail eri s ta ly n romo sai digit l k 5,. educational device useful in teaching the num: 2system comprising an elongated base structure, a plurality ofdigit'indicating blocks, a plurality of place value indicating bloclgs,means comprising a longitudinal slot at the upp por n of sai ase s ru ue for supportng the digit indicating blocks in generally upright displayposition and in slidable relation therealo lg, an elongated outwardlyprojecting ledge at the front of said base structure for slidablysupporting the place value indicating blocks in generally uprightdisplay position below the digit indicating blocks, an elongated supportextending across the upper portion of said base structure between saidslot and said le g, and a decimal point-representing element slidablymounted on said support for movement therealong in front of the digitindicating blocks.

6, An educational deviceluseful in teaching the number system comprisingan elongated base structure having a longitudinal slot in its uppersurface, said slot being inclined slightly 'to the rear of'the device, aplurality of digit blocks adapted to be slidably supported in' said slotin generally upright but rearwardly inclined display position, anelongated shoulder at the front of said base structure below the uppersurface thereof, said shoulder having a bottom ledge portion extendingforwardly and inclined slightly upwardly and the front portion of saidbase structure above said ledge portion being inclined slightly to therear in generallyparallel relation with said slot, a plurality of placevalue block-s adapted to be slidably'supported' in rearwardly inclineddisplay position on said shoulder'belowthe digit blocks with the bottomedges of the place value, blocks" engaging said ledge porzion and therear faces of the place value, blocks engaging the rearwardly inclinedfront portion of said base structure, an elongated supportingmember"exteriding along said base structure adjacent the upper surfacethereof and in front of said slot, and a decimal point-representingelement slidably 'nio'unt'edon said supporting member in front or thedigit blocks;

7'. The'device of claim 6' further characterized in that 5 saidsupporting member is pivotally connected to said base structure and isadapted to be swung rearwardly for removing the decimalpoint-representing element from normal View.

8. The device of claim 1 further characterized in that said body isprovided at the front side thereof with an elongated outwardlyprojecting ledge -for slidably supporting a plurality of place valueindicating blocks in generally upright display relation below the digitindicating blocks.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSBarrett Aug. 2, 1892 Platt Jan. 13, 1920 Konno June 21, 1932 Wade et alDec. 28, 1948 Rickard et a1 Oct. 24, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS SwitzerlandOct. 28, 1926 Great Britain Apr. 17, 1947

